Jinhai's relationship with his sons was vastly different from what he had with his daughter. He loved and spoiled his daughter the most of all. He made sure that he was friendly enough for Nuo to share her troubles with him apart from Nana if she felt like it.
But for his sons, he had an ironclad rule.
If they ever felt that they were in serious trouble someday, they were always, always supposed to tell it to Jinhai first and to Jinhai only.
It was because Jinhai deeply loved Nana and as such, he didn't want to see her in pain. So, he tried to deal with all the problems before they even reached Nana's ears.
Then again, Jinhai was afraid too.
He knew his personality, and he believed his sons wouldn't disappoint in inheriting his traits.
Dark, possessive, manipulative - he knew his children would have it in them for sure too, especially his sons. Somehow, he always instinctively believed that Nuo wouldn't be like him.
His instinct was right, and Liu Nuo grew up to be Nana's mirror image. Be it her beauty or her nature.
But his sons were like him. The more they grew from toddlers to kids to teenagers and to adults, the more they exhibited those qualities.
The eldest twins, Jian and Nian for most of the time, would look as if they were fooling around like some cheeky brats. But there was a streak of cunningness in their eyes which Jinhai never failed to miss. They had their own way of doing things and acting like spoiled brats was like a way of lowering everyone's guards around them.
His youngest son Jin, was a sort of amalgam between Jinhai and Nana's personalities. He was gentle like his mother, but at times, he could be fierce like his father if he wanted to. Sometimes, his gentle smile was just a facade to hide his true self. People considered him harmless because of the smile he wore on his lips. But his hands at his back always carried a dagger to stab.
His third son, Jun, had his own way. Different path but which led to the same result. He was quiet and as calm as still water. He behaved as if he was invisible to others because he always liked to be silent. Yet at the same time, people still felt his presence and his imposing aura.
If there was one word Jinhai felt that perfectly described Jun, then that was -
Intense.
He wore an impassive expression on his face all the time which led people to believe that nothing affected him much. Cold and unfeeling. But deep inside, he was a big ball of emotions raging within him. Extreme, intense feelings that would burst out if somebody poked that bubble.
Right now, out of all the things that his son might have confessed to him, he chose to say something that Jinhai had trouble understanding for the first time.
Rebirth?
Was this even possible?
And being a villain in his past life?
Somehow, Jinhai wasn't much shocked to know that.
He tilted his head. "Let's start with how you died in your previous life."
He said nothing.
Jinhai dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Jun."
Jun lowered his gaze. "...Suicide."
Jinhai trembled. His gaze was locked onto him as if he had trouble believing it.
"Excuse me? Suicide?"
He expected an accident or in the worst case, a murder.
"Yes."
"You are someone who would force a person to shoot himself in the head, not cut your own wrist."
"It's true."
Silence.
Jinhai moved and got up from his seat. He walked towards his son and stood in front of him.
"Why?"
He said nothing.
"You should understand that my patience is limited, Jun," Jinhai's voice at the end got colder.
"I killed Jin."
Jinhai stared at him unblinkingly.
"Nuo's relationship with Siying fell apart because of me. She fell into depression. Bro Jian and Leina broke up because I was at fault. Everything was my fault. Grandma, Grandpa…everybody was heartbroken. After all this, I hurt the woman I love the most, Han Shui. Mom fell sick seeing her family shatter. It was the last straw when Jin died that she couldn't hold on for longer either."
Jinhai tilted his head. "Nana…died?"
Jun's hands at his back shook hard. "Yes-"
A punch landed straight at his cheek before he could complete his sentence. Jun dropped on his left knee, coughing blood from inside his mouth. His lower lip was stained crimson. A cut formed on his cheek.
Jinhai warned. "I am giving you the last chance to take back everything you said."
The punch was powerful. Jun felt the pain reach up to his head and feel delirious. His face ached like hell.
"It's…the truth," he breathlessly said. It was painful to move his jaw.
Jinhai bent to his level and harshly pulled his face to make him look straight at him.
He ordered. "Tell me everything from the beginning."
And Jun did so. Without missing any part, he confessed everything. Jinhai quietly heard each and every word.
There was a long silence after he was done. After it seemed like forever, Jinhai finally declared. "Don't show your face in the Liu villa again. From today onwards, I disown you from the family and the company. You would have no relation with us whatsoever from now on."
—
The alarm went off at 7 AM a week later.
Jun slowly opened his eyes. He subconsciously reached out his hand to his phone to do a routine task. But he didn't do it. He paused. Then he quietly put his phone away.
He did some stretches and morning exercise like usual. He took a shower and got ready. He cooked a few omelet rolls like he always did every Wednesday and ate his breakfast. Alone and in silence.
Exactly eleven minutes later, his breakfast was done. He got up, washed and cleaned the plates and put them back in their place. All neatly and methodically.
It was 8.12 AM now. Beijing's largest public library opened at 8.30 AM.
He reached the library's entrance and saw the head librarian just unlocking the door. She was a kind woman in her late sixties.
She heard the footsteps stop behind her, and she smiled. "You are always so punctual. Not even a minute late, Jun."
He said nothing.
She sighed. "Your silence doesn't change either."
Beijing's public library was a three floor building with the largest amount of information and books available anywhere in the city.
Jun was an assistant librarian, and he proceeded to do his usual responsibilities for the day.
The library closed at 9 PM. Jun picked his bag four minutes before and went down. The kind librarian warmly smiled at him. "Thank you for your work, Jun."
At eleven PM exactly, he set the alarm for the next day, switched off the lights and laid back on the bed. Out of habit, he picked his phone again to do a certain task.
He paused and silently kept his phone away without doing it. Again.
Jun stared at the ceiling above.
This was his daily life for a week now since his father disowned him from everything. From a rich young master, his life was now being reduced to living as an assistant librarian.
But he didn't complain. This was his choice, after all.
Every night as he blankly stared at the ceiling, Jun thought back to the time when everything had started and questioned himself.
Was it the right thing to do?